Screening methods involving the detection of short-lived proteins

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for screening for agents that affect protein degradation rates, the method comprising: taking a library of cells, the cells expressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequence from a cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within the cell library; contacting the library of cells with a plurality of agents which may affect protein degradation rates; for each agent, selecting cells in the library which express short-lived proteins based on whether the cells have different reporter signal intensities than other cells in the library, the difference being indicative of the selected cells expressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells in the library; and characterizing the fusion proteins expressed by the selected cells for each agent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to detecting and characterizingproteins and more specifically to detecting and characterizingshort-lived proteins.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] The availability of the entire human genome sequence willrevolutionize the way biology and medicine will be explored in the nextcentury and beyond. However, the next big challenge is the developmentof technologies for the comprehensive analysis of gene expression andthe interpretation of the functionality of individual genes and theirgene products in the human genome.

[0003] A gene is genetic information (i.e., DNA or RNA) that encodes aprotein. Proteins, the expression product of genes, have differentbiological functions within a cell. For example, proteins may act asenzymes, interact with DNA or protein, contribute to the cellularskeleton or possess some other function.

[0004] Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the function of mostgene products directly from their gene sequences. As a result,characterization of the biological function of any individual geneproduct, its association with disease and its pharmaceuticalapplications are all problems that need to be addressed even after agene is identified.

[0005] One post-genomics field, proteomics, is attempting to bridge theknowledge gap between gene sequences and their biological functions.However, the difficulties facing proteomics are multifaceted. Unlikegenes that comprise only four nucleotides and a relatively simple doublehelical structure, proteins are polymers that comprise differentcombinations of twenty different amino acids. The amino acid sequence ofa protein affects the structure of the protein and hence its function.Some proteins also undergo post-translational modifications that affecttheir structure and biological activity.

[0006] The way in which a protein is expressed also affects the rolethat the protein plays within a cell. A protein may be expressed or notexpressed in response to different conditions, in response to thepresence of different agents, and at different levels. Where a proteinis expressed within a cell and where the protein is transported afterexpression also impact the protein's function.

[0007] The degradation rate of a protein both affects and evidences itsrole within a cell. For example, short-lived proteins, i.e., proteinswith a short half life, are believed to be very important proteins incells. It has been commented that the most important proteins will beshown to be short-lived and that most short-lived proteins will be shownto be important.

[0008] Examples of proteins that have already been shown to beshort-lived include tumor suppressor p53, oncoprotein myc, cyclins,signaling protein I B, and key biosynthetic enzymes such as ornithinedecarboxylase. Their rapid turnover makes it possible for their cellularlevel to change promptly when synthesis is increased or reduced.Schimke, R. T. (1973) Control of enzyme levels in mammalian tissues.Advanced Enzymology, 37, 135-187.

[0009] It is believed that many proteins that turn over rapidly withincells have regulatory roles. For example, transcription factors, cellcycle regulators and metabolic enzymes are all believed to be relativelyshort-lived proteins.

[0010] Identifying whether a given protein is short-lived is very usefultoward identifying the protein's role within the cell. Unfortunatelyhowever, analysis of whether a given protein is short-lived is currentlytime-consuming and labor-intensive. The most definitive form of analysisrequires pulse-chase labeling cells and immunoprecipitating extracts. Invitro assay of degradation is simpler than in vivo analysis, but an invitro assay system is difficult to establish and may not fully mimic thedegradation of proteins in cells.

[0011] Identifying which proteins among all the proteins expressed by acell are short-lived is highly desirable since it may serve to identifywhich proteins are the more important proteins to study. However,genome-wide functional screening and systemic characterization ofcellular short-lived proteins is more complicated than analyzing thelifetime of a single known protein. Identification of short-livedproteins is more difficult because they are degraded more rapidly andtend to be present in lower quantities within the cell. Short-livedproteins are thus harder to detect, isolate and characterize. A needcurrently exists for a technology that allows for high throughputscreening of whether proteins are short-lived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kitsfor detecting and characterizing short-lived proteins. Through thepresent invention, it is possible to perform genome-wide functionalscreening and systemic characterization of cellular short-livedproteins.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a method is provided for selectingcells based on whether the cells express a short-lived protein, themethod comprising: taking a library of cells, the cells in the libraryexpressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter protein and a proteinencoded by a sequence from a cDNA library derived from a sample ofcells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within the celllibrary; modifying a rate of protein expression or degradation by cellsin the library; and selecting a population of cells from the library ofcells based on the population of cells having different reporter signalintensities than other cells in the library, the difference beingindicative of the population of cells expressing shorter lived fusionproteins than the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells in thelibrary.

[0014] According to another embodiment, a method is provided forselecting cells based on whether the cells express a short-livedprotein, the method comprising: taking a library of cells, the cells inthe library expressing a first reporter protein and a fusion proteincomprising a second reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequencefrom a cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, the sequence fromthe cDNA library varying within the cell library; modifying a rate ofprotein expression or degradation by cells in the library; and selectinga population of the cells from the library of cells based on whether thecells have a different normalized reporter signal intensity than othercells in the library, the normalized reporter signal intensitycomprising a reporter signal from the fusion protein normalized relativeto a reporter signal from the first reporter protein, the differencebeing indicative of the population of cells expressing shorter livedfusion proteins than the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells inthe library.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment, a method is provided forselecting cells based on whether the cells express a short-livedprotein, the method comprising: taking a library of cells, the cells inthe library expressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter proteinand a protein encoded by a sequence from a cDNA library derived from asample of cells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within thecell library; partitioning the library of cells into populations ofcells based on an intensity of a reporter signal from the fusion proteinsuch that cells partitioned into a given population have a reportersignal within a range of reporter signal intensity; modifying a rate ofprotein expression or degradation by cells for a given population ofcells; and selecting a subpopulation of cells from the given populationof cells based on whether the cells have a different reporter signalintensity than the other cells in the given population, the differencebeing indicative of the subpopulation of cells expressing shorter livedfusion proteins than the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells inthe given population.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment, a method is provided forselecting cells based on whether the cells express a short-livedprotein, the method comprising: taking a library of cells, the cells inthe library expressing a first reporter protein and a fusion proteincomprising a second reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequencefrom a cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, the sequence fromthe cDNA library varying within the cell library; partitioning thelibrary of cells into populations of cells based on an intensity of areporter signal from the fusion protein such that cells partitioned intoa given population have a reporter signal within a range of reportersignal intensity; modifying a rate of protein expression or degradationby cells for a given population of cells; and selecting a subpopulationof the cells from the population of cells based on whether the cellshave a different normalized reporter signal intensity than the othercells in the population, the normalized reporter signal intensitycomprising a reporter signal from the fusion protein normalized relativeto a reporter signal from the first reporter protein, the differencebeing indicative of the subpopulation of cells expressing shorter livedfusion proteins than the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells inthe given population.

[0017] According to another embodiment, a method is provided forselecting cells based on whether the cells express a short-livedprotein, the method comprising: forming a construct library encoding alibrary of fusion proteins, the fusion proteins comprising a reporterprotein and a protein encoded by a sequence from a cDNA library derivedfrom a sample of cells; transducing or transfecting the constructlibrary into cells to form a library of cells which express the libraryof the fusion proteins; screening the transduced or transfected cellsfor cells which express the fusion protein; partitioning the screenedcells into populations of cells based on an intensity of a reportersignal from the fusion protein such that cells partitioned into a givenpopulation have a reporter signal within a range of reporter signalintensity; modifying a rate of protein expression or degradation bycells in the given population; and selecting a subpopulation of thecells from the given population of cells based on whether the cells havea different reporter signal intensity than the other cells in the givenpopulation, the difference being indicative of the subpopulation ofcells expressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusion proteinsexpressed by the other cells in the given population.

[0018] According to this method, the library of cells may optionallyfurther express an internal standard protein having a different reportersignal than the reporter protein, and selecting the subpopulation ofcells may optionally further comprise normalizing the reporter signalfrom the fusion protein using the reporter signal from the internalstandard protein.

[0019] According any of the above methods, screening may be performedusing a flow cytometer. In such instances, the reporter protein ispreferably a protein that can be detected by the flow cytometer and usedto screen the cells.

[0020] According any of the above methods, the reporter protein may be afluorescent protein. For example, the reporter protein may be a greenfluorescence protein (GFP), an enhanced green fluorescence protein(EGFP), or a red fluorescent protein. The reporter protein may also bebeta-galactosidase.

[0021] According any of the above methods, screening and partitioningmay be performed using a flow cytometer.

[0022] Also according any of the above methods, when the reporterprotein is a fluorescent protein and partitioning is performed, therange of reporter signal intensity is optionally a half-log interval offluorescence.

[0023] Also according any of the above methods, when the reporterprotein is a fluorescent protein and partitioning is performed, a givenpopulation that is formed may optionally have a modal brightness thatdiffers from another population by a factor of at least 3.

[0024] Also according any of the above methods, when the reporterprotein is a fluorescent protein and partitioning is performed,partitioning may comprise partitioning the screened cells into at least4 populations of cells where the reporter signal intensities of cellswithin a given population do not overlap with the reporter signalintensities of cells within another population of cells.

[0025] Also according any of the above methods, when protein expressionis inhibited, selecting a subpopulation of the cells from the givenpopulation of cells may be based on cells having a reduced reportersignal intensity than the other cells in the given population.

[0026] Also according any of the above methods, when protein expressionis inhibited, selecting a subpopulation of the cells from the givenpopulation of cells may be based on cells having less than half reportersignal intensity than the other cells in the given population.

[0027] Also according any of the above methods, when protein degradationis inhibited, selecting a subpopulation of the cells from the givenpopulation of cells may be based on cells having an increased reportersignal intensity than the other cells in the given population.

[0028] Also according any of the above methods, when protein degradationis inhibited, selecting a subpopulation of the cells from the givenpopulation of cells may be based on cells having more than twice thereporter signal intensity than the other cells in the given population.

[0029] Also according any of the above methods, the selectedsubpopulation of the cells may optionally be subjected to one or moreadditional rounds of selection, each round of selection comprisingmodifying a rate of protein expression or degradation by the cells, andselecting a further subpopulation of the cells based on whether thecells having a different reporter signal intensity than the other cellsin the given population.

[0030] Also according any of the above methods, the selectedsubpopulation of the cells may optionally be subjected to one or moreadditional rounds of selection such that at least one round of selectioncomprises inhibiting protein expression and at least one round ofselection comprises inhibiting protein degradation.

[0031] Also according any of the above methods, the selectedsubpopulation of cells may optionally be further selected, at leastpartially, by culturing cells separately and individually monitoring howthe reporter signal of each cell changes in response to proteinsynthesis or protein degradation being inhibited.

[0032] Also according any of the above methods, the selectedsubpopulation of cells may optionally be further selected, at leastpartially, by culturing cells separately and individually monitoring howthe reporter signal of each cell changes using a fluorescent platereader.

[0033] Also according any of the above methods, the methods mayoptionally further comprise analyzing whether the fusion protein of theselected cells is short-lived by a pulse-chase analysis.

[0034] Also according any of the above methods, the method mayoptionally further comprise analyzing whether the fusion protein of theselected cells is short-lived by radiolabelling the expressed fusionprotein; immunoprecipitating the expressed fusion protein with anti-GFPantisera; and analyzing the immunoprecipitate by SDS-PAGE andautoradiography.

[0035] Also according any of the above methods, the method mayoptionally further comprise determining the nucleic acid sequences ofthe fusion proteins.

[0036] Also according any of the above methods, the method mayoptionally further comprise determining the protein sequences of thefusion proteins.

[0037] Also according any of the above methods, the method mayoptionally further comprise analyzing whether the portion of the fusionprotein encoded by the sequence from the cDNA library is short-livedwhen expressed independent of the reporter protein.

[0038] Methods are also provided for monitoring the effects thatdifferent growth conditions have on expression of short-lived proteins

[0039] In one embodiment, the method comprises: exposing samples ofcells to different growth conditions; forming cDNA libraries from thesample of cells after exposure to the different growth conditions;forming a library of cells for each cDNA library, the cells in thelibrary expressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter protein and aprotein encoded by a sequence from the cDNA library derived from asample of cells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within thecell library; for each library of cells: identifying cells within thelibrary that express fusion proteins that are degraded in vivo morerapidly than other fusion proteins, and characterizing fusion proteinsexpressed by the identified cells; and comparing which fusion proteinsare characterized for each library of cells, differences in thecharacterized fusion proteins indicating differences in the short-livedproteins expressed by when the cells are exposed to the differentagents.

[0040] In one variation, identifying cells within the library thatexpress fusion proteins that are degraded in vivo more rapidly thanother fusion proteins comprises modifying a rate of protein expressionor degradation by the cells, and selecting a population of the cellsbased on whether the cells have a different reporter signal intensitythan the other cells after the rate of protein expression or degradationhas been modified.

[0041] In another embodiment, the method comprises: exposing samples ofcells to different conditions; forming cDNA libraries from the sample ofcells after exposure to the different growth conditions; forming alibrary of cells for each cDNA library, the cells in the libraryexpressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter protein and a proteinencoded by a sequence from the cDNA library derived from a sample ofcells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within the celllibrary; for each library of cells: partitioning the library of cellsinto populations of cells based on an intensity of a reporter signalfrom the fusion protein such that cells partitioned into a givenpopulation have a reporter signal within a range of reporter signalintensity, modifying a rate of protein expression or degradation by thecells for a given population of cells, selecting a subpopulation of thecells from the given population of cells based on whether the cells havea different reporter signal intensity than the other cells in the givenpopulation, and characterizing fusion proteins expressed by at least aportion of the selected cells; and comparing which fusion proteins arecharacterized for each library of cells, differences in thecharacterized fusion proteins indicating differences in the short-livedproteins expressed by when the cells are exposed to the differentagents.

[0042] In one variation, exposing the samples of cells to differentconditions comprises exposing the cells to different agents.

[0043] A method is also provided for screening for differences inshort-lived proteins expressed by first and second cell samples.

[0044] In one embodiment, the method comprises: forming cDNA librariesfor first and second samples of cells; forming a library of cells foreach cDNA library, the cells in the library expressing a fusion proteincomprising a reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequence fromthe cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, the sequence from thecDNA library varying within the cell library; for each library of cells:identifying cells within the library that express fusion proteins thatare degraded in vivo more rapidly than other fusion proteins, andcharacterizing fusion proteins expressed by the identified cells; andcomparing which fusion proteins are characterized for each library ofcells, differences in the characterized fusion proteins indicatingdifferences in the short-lived proteins expressed by the first andsecond samples cells.

[0045] In another embodiment, the method comprises: forming cDNAlibraries for first and second samples of cells; forming a library ofcells for each cDNA library, the cells in the library expressing afusion protein comprising a reporter protein and a protein encoded by asequence from the cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, thesequence from the cDNA library varying within the cell library; for eachlibrary of cells: partitioning the library of cells into populations ofcells based on an intensity of a reporter signal from the fusion proteinsuch that cells partitioned into a given population have a reportersignal within a range of reporter signal intensity, modifying a rate ofprotein expression or degradation by the cells for a given population ofcells, selecting a subpopulation of the cells based on whether the cellshave a different reporter signal intensity than other cells after therate of protein expression or degradation has been modified, andcharacterizing fusion proteins expressed by at least a portion of theselected cells; and comparing which fusion proteins are characterizedfor each library of cells, differences in the characterized fusionproteins indicating differences in the short-lived proteins expressed bythe first and second samples cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046]FIG. 1 provides a general overview of how short-lived proteinsencoded by DNA from a cDNA library may be detected and characterized ina high-throughput manner according to the present invention.

[0047]FIG. 2A illustrates a process of inhibiting either proteinexpression or degradation and then screening for a subpopulation ofcells that have a different reporter protein signal.

[0048]FIG. 2B illustrates exemplary fluorescence intensity plots for theprocess illustrated in FIG. 2A.

[0049]FIG. 3 illustrates a method for monitoring how degradation ratesof different proteins change under different conditions.

[0050]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a method for comparing whichshort-lived proteins are expressed by two or more different samples ofcells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Proteins that degrade more rapidly than other proteins in vivo(i.e., proteins with short half lives) are believed to be functionallysignificant and hence proteins whose study should be prioritized. Byidentifying these proteins and better understanding their function andhow their expression and degradation are regulated, a myriad oftherapeutic applications can be developed. For example, it may provetherapeutically advantageous to induce or inhibit expression of certainof these proteins for selected disease states. It may also provetherapeutically advantageous to develop inhibitors for certain of theseproteins for selected disease states. It may also prove therapeuticallyadvantageous for certain disease states to increase or decrease the halflife of these proteins in vivo, for example by stimulating or inhibitingthe regulatory pathway controlling the degradation of these proteins.

[0052] As will be described herein, the present invention provides highthroughput methods that allow short-lived proteins to be identified andstudied more efficiently. For example, the present invention relates tomethods for identifying which proteins expressed by a given cell sampleare degraded more rapidly than other proteins also expressed by the cellsample. The more rapidly degraded proteins are referred to herein as“short-lived proteins.” By understanding which proteins are short-lived,these proteins may be targeted for further study.

[0053] Expression of at least some short-lived proteins is regulated.The present invention also relates to methods for identifyingshort-lived proteins whose expression is affected by particularconditions. By knowing what conditions affect the expression ofdifferent short-lived proteins, therapeutic applications may bedeveloped to induce or inhibit their expression.

[0054] The degradation rate of some proteins may also be regulated. Thepresent invention relates to methods for identifying short-livedproteins whose degradation rate in vivo is affected by particularconditions. By knowing what conditions affect the degradation ofdifferent short-lived proteins, how protein degradation of particularshort-lived proteins is regulated can be better understood. Further,therapeutic applications can be developed as a result of betterunderstanding how degradation of these proteins is regulated and whatagents influence their degradation.

[0055] Compositions and kits for use in combination with the variousmethods of the present invention are also provided.

[0056] Advantageously, the methods of the present invention arehigh-throughput methods in the sense that they can be used to performgenome-wide functional screening and systemic characterization of groupsof cellular proteins as short-lived proteins. Because short-livedproteins are likely to be functionally significant, the ability tosystematically identify certain proteins as being short-lived greatlyassists in identifying which are the more important proteins beingexpressed. Given that many short-lived proteins are regulatory proteins,knowing which proteins are short-lived also helps to determine thefunctional significance of these proteins.

[0057] Using the technology of the present invention, functionalidentification of important regulatory proteins from the entire humangenome is made possible in a high-throughput screening format. With thistechnology, human genes can be systematically screened and new genes caneasily be identified from expression libraries. Because of theirimportance in biological function, these short-lived proteins have agreat potential in drug discovery.

[0058] As will become evident by the following description of theinvention, the methods of the invention advantageously allow one todifferentiate and identify short-lived proteins from longer livedproteins without knowing in advance which proteins are short-lived andwithout knowing in advance the sequences of the various short-livedproteins that will ultimately be identified.

[0059]FIG. 1 provides a general overview of how short-lived proteins maybe detected and characterized in a high-throughput manner according tothe present invention.

[0060] As illustrated, mRNA 101 is obtained from a cell sample 100. AcDNA library 102 is then formed from the mRNA 101. The cDNA library 102and a sequence encoding a reporter protein 104 are combined to form aconstruct library 106 encoding fusion proteins, each fusion proteincomprising a protein encoded by a sequence from the cDNA library and thereporter protein.

[0061] A vector library 108 is formed from the construct library 106 inorder to introduce the fusion protein constructs into a cell line.Introduction of the vector library may be performed by transduction ortransfection, depending on the nature of the vector and the nature ofthe cell line.

[0062] A library of cells 110, once formed using the vector library,express the library of fusion proteins. The library of expressed fusionproteins comprise short-lived fusion proteins and a larger number oflonger-lived fusion proteins. Described herein is a process forselecting cells from the library that express fusion proteins thatbehave as short-lived proteins over the larger group of cells thatexpress fusion proteins that behave as longer-lived proteins.

[0063] As seen in step 112, the fusion proteins are expressed by thelibrary of cells. The cells are then screened 114 for expression of thefusion protein based on detection of the reporter signal. The screen 114serves to remove cells that do not exhibit a reporter signal. As aresult, cells that express a fusion protein are separated from cellsthat either did not receive a construct or received a non-productiveconstruct.

[0064] The reporter protein should be a protein whose expression may bedetected in vivo. A variety of such proteins may be used, most commonlyfluorescent proteins such as green fluorescence protein (GFP) andenhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) which may be readily detectedand used to screen the cells by a flow cytometer.

[0065] After the cell library is screened 114, the screened cells arepartitioned 115 into populations of cells where the measured reportersignal from the fusion protein in a given population is within apredetermined range. For example, if the reporter is fluorescent, thecells are grouped into populations where all the cells in a givenpopulation fluoresce within a given range of fluorescence intensity.

[0066] For a given population of cells, the rate at which proteinexpression or degradation occurs is then modified 116. A subpopulationof the cells is then selected 118 from the given population of cellsbased on those cells having different reporter signal intensities thanthe other cells in the given population, the difference in reportersignal intensities being indicative of the subpopulation of cellsexpressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusion proteinsexpressed by the other cells in the given population. The subpopulationof cells selected will typically represent a minority of the cells ofthe given population.

[0067] The process of partitioning the cells into populations 115,modifying the rate of protein expression or degradation 116, andselecting a subpopulation of cells based on reporter signal intensity118 is described in more detail in regard to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0068] Referring to partitioning the cells into populations 115, FIG. 2Billustrates a plot of fluorescence for cells expressing fusion proteinswhere the reporter is fluorescent. As illustrated, the different cellshave a range of fluorescence intensities 210. In order to better monitorchanges in fluorescence intensities for individual cells, the cells arefractionated into populations of cells where cells in a given populationare all within a narrower range of fluorescence. For example, thefluorescence plot of one fractionated population of cells 212 is shownin FIG. 2B.

[0069] Referring to the step of modifying the rate of protein expressionor degradation 116 of FIG. 1, it is noted that short-lived proteins aredegraded faster than other proteins. As a result, when proteinexpression is inhibited, the concentration of short-lived protein in thecell will decrease at a more rapid rate than longer-lived proteinsbecause protein expression is not replacing the short-lived proteins. Asa result, the reporter signal intensity in cells expressing ashort-lived fusion protein will decrease more rapidly than other cellswithin a given population. Referring to FIG. 2A, it is possible toinhibit protein expression 202 and then select cells 206 expressing ashort-lived fusion protein by selecting those cells whose reportersignal is lower than other cells in the cell population. Exemplaryfluorescence intensity plots for this process are illustrated in FIG. 2Bwhere a population of cells that initially had a common fluorescenceintensity (as shown in plot 212) has separated over time into twopopulations where a small sub-population has a lower fluorescenceintensity after protein synthesis is inhibited (as shown in plot 214).

[0070] When protein degradation is inhibited in step 116 of FIG. 1,because short-lived proteins are degraded faster than other proteins,the concentration of short-lived proteins will increase at a more rapidrate than will longer-lived proteins. As a result, the reporter signalof cells expressing a fusion protein comprising a short-lived proteinwithin a given population will increase more rapidly than cellsexpressing a fusion protein comprising a longer-lived protein. Referringagain to FIG. 2A, it is possible to inhibit protein degradation 204 andthen select those cells 208 that express a short-lived fusion protein byselecting those cells whose reporter signal is higher than other cellsin the cell population. Exemplary fluorescence intensity plots for thisprocess are illustrated in FIG. 2B where a population of cells thatinitially had a common fluorescence intensity (as shown in plot 212) hasseparated over time into two populations where a small sub-populationhas a higher fluorescence intensity after protein degradation isinhibited (as shown in plot 216).

[0071] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the process of inhibitingeither protein expression or degradation and then screening for asubpopulation of cells which have a different reporter protein signalmay be performed once or repeated one or more times in order to morecarefully select cells expressing short-lived fusion proteins. Forexample, in one variation, at least one selection is performed afterinhibiting protein expression and at least one selection is performedafter inhibiting protein degradation.

[0072] Optionally, the cells selected as having a different reportersignal than other cells in the population in response to proteinsynthesis or protein degradation being inhibited may be furtherevaluated prior to sequencing the fusion proteins. For example, asdescribed herein, different cells may be cultured separately and thenindividually monitored for how their reporter signal changes in responseto protein synthesis or protein degradation being inhibited. Bymonitoring the reporter signal behavior of different cells separately,it is possible to more carefully evaluate whether a given fusion proteinis being degraded as would a protein with a relatively shorter halflife. As a result, a more careful cell selection may be performed.

[0073] After cells believed to encode short-lived fusion proteins arefinally selected, the nucleic acid and protein sequences of the fusionproteins may be determined.

[0074] Once the sequences of the fusion proteins and the cDNA encodingthem are known, a variety of additional analyses may be performed. Forexample, database searches may be performed based on the cDNA or proteinsequences in order to determine whether the cDNA sequence and/or theprotein encoded by the cDNA sequence are already known. In someinstances, the proteins identified by the above selection process willbe novel. Even if some of the proteins are already known, their cDNAsequences may not have been known. Furthermore, the fact that theseproteins are degraded more rapidly is valuable information since itindicates that these proteins may be regulatory proteins.

[0075] As can be seen from the above description, the process of thepresent invention allows one to screen an entire cDNA library forproteins whose difference in degradation rates evidence that theseproteins are short-lived. The proteins and their cDNA need not be knownprior to performing the process of the present invention or known evenwhen performing the process. Rather, only those proteins that are likelyto be short-lived proteins need to be sequenced according to the presentinvention.

[0076] As can also be seen, the method of the present invention allowsthe discovery of various valuable pieces of information that allincrementally help to fill the proteomics knowledge gap.

[0077] By being able to rapidly identify proteins as being short-livedin combination with the cDNA sequences encoding the proteins, a myriadof applications arise, some of which are described herein in furtherdetail. For example, by determining which proteins are short-lived,arrays comprising cDNA for the short-lived proteins can be producedwhich allow one to rapidly monitor how expression of differentshort-lived proteins changes under different conditions.

[0078] The design, operation and applications for the present inventionwill now be described in greater detail.

[0079] 1. Formation of Reporter-cDNA Fusion Protein Construct Library

[0080] In order to systematically clone all genes whose products may beshort-lived, a fusion expression library is formed by combining asequence encoding a reporter protein with a cDNA library formed frommRNAs isolated from a sample of cells. A wide variety of methods areknown in the art for forming a cDNA library from mRNA isolated from acell sample. Any of these methods may be used in the present invention.

[0081] In one embodiment, an agent such as Trizol reagent (Gibco BRL) isused to isolate total RNA from cells or a tissue sample. Oligo (dT)columns is then used to purify poly (A)⁺ RNAs. First-strand cDNAsynthesis may then be primed from poly (A)⁺ RNAs by oligo dT primers. AcDNA library may then be constructed using SMART (Switching Mechanism at5′ end of RNA template) library construction technology from CLONTECH.This method simultaneously employs the two intrinsic properties ofM-MLV, namely RT—reverse transcription of mRNA template and templateswitching activity. The technique allows two different restriction sitesto be added to the anchor and oligo dT primers, to conduct directionalcloning cDNAs.

[0082] Optionally, the oligo(dT) primer may include an BamH I site andan EcoR I site may be introduced into the anchor. First strand synthesisis then performed with 5-methyl dCTP, producing hemimethylated cDNA,with the unmethylated BamH I site on the linker/primer. Second-strandcDNA is generated with the unmethylated EcoR I site on the anchor as aprimer, using an enzyme mixture of E. coli DNA polymerase, RNA ligaseand RNase H. The double-stranded cDNA is digested with appropriaterestriction enzymes to generate two different sticky ends. After sizefractionation, the cDNA may be directionally cloned into expressionvectors. Compared to cDNA cloned nondirectionally, libraries madeaccording to this method are more likely to make functional fusionproteins for expression screening.

[0083] The reporter protein may be any protein that enables cellsexpressing the reporter protein as part of a fusion protein to bescreened in vivo. The sequence encoding the reporter protein may be 3′or 5′ relative to the sequence from the cDNA library.

[0084] In one embodiment, the reporter protein is an autofluorescentprotein. A unique feature of autofluorescent proteins is their abilityto be detected without any substrate or cofactor. Using anautofluorescent protein as the reporter, fluorescence associated withsingle cells can be analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorting(FACS), a technology easily adapted to high throughput screening.Galbraith, D. W., Anderson, M. T. and Herzenberg, L. A. (1999) Flowcytometric analysis and FACS sorting of cells based on GFP accumulation.Methods Cell Biol, 58, 315-41. Thus, FACS can be used for analysis ofthe large number of human genes.

[0085] Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is an example of anautofluorescent protein. GFP from the jellyfish Aequorea victoriahasbeen widely used to study gene expression and protein localization.Tsien, R. Y. (1998) The green fluorescent protein. Annu Rev Biochem, 67,509-44. GFP has also been found in a variety of other organismsincluding Renilla.

[0086] Enhanced GFP (EGFP) is a mutant of GFP with 35-fold increase influorescence, which dramatically improves the detection of GFP. Thefluorescence of GFP is dependent on the key sequence Ser-Tyr-Gly (aminoacids 65 to 67) that undergoes spontaneous oxidation to form a cyclizedchromophore. Enhanced GFP (EGFP) contains mutations of Ser to Thr atamino acid 65 and Phe to Leu at position 64, and is encoded by a genewith human-optimized codons. Cormack, B. P., Valdivia, R. H. and Falkow,S. (1996) FACS-optimized mutants of the green fluorescent protein (GFP).Gene, 173, 33-8.

[0087] A wide variety of methods are known in the art for forming afusion protein library between a first protein (in this case thereporter protein) and sequences from the cDNA library. In oneembodiment, the fusion protein libraries are constructed by fusing cDNAto the C terminus of the reporter protein, such as GFP or EGFP.Optionally, pEGFP-N1, N2, and N3 (CLONTECH) may be used to express GFPfusion proteins. pEGFP-N1, N2, and N3 are a set of vectors with threeopen reading frames. The vectors contain the CMV promoter, multiplecloning sites (MCS), the EGFP gene and an SV40 poly A site. The MCS withthree reading frames allows genes to be cloned 5′ relative to the EGFPgene. The expression vectors also contain the SV40 origin ofreplication, which allows extra-chromosomal replication and facilitaterecovery from cells, such as COS-7, that express the SV40 large Tantigen.

[0088] 2. Formation of Vector Library Comprising Reporter-cDNA FusionProtein Constructs

[0089] A variety of different vectors may be formed to transfer thelibrary of constructs into a cell line. These vectors may introduce theconstructs into the cell line by transfection or transduction. Forexample, the library of constructs may be ligated into expressionvectors such as pd1EGFP, pd2EGFP, and pd4EGFP which are eachcommercially available mammalian expression vectors that code for thefluorescence protein EGFP. These constructs are made from pEGFP-C1withthe C-terminal fusion of the degradation domain of mouse ornithinedecarboxylase and demonstrated in cells with a short half-life, a rangefrom 1hour to 4hours To normalize the transfection, a second reporterconstruct, such as beta-galactosidase, can be co-transfected with thefluorescence protein construct under the control of the same or adifferent promoter.

[0090] 3. Formation of Library of Cells Comprising Reporter-cDNA FusionProtein Constructs

[0091] The library of vectors encoding the reporter-cDNA fusion proteinsare then introduced into a cell line to produce a library of cells whichexpress the reporter-cDNA fusion proteins. Preferably, the cell libraryformed has a diversity of at least >10⁴, more preferably >10⁵ and mostpreferably a diversity of at least >10⁶.

[0092] The recipient cell line of the vector library is preferably of asame genus as the sample of cells from which the cDNA library isderived. For example, a fusion protein library formed from cDNA derivedfrom mammalian cells is preferably formed in a mammalian cell line.Similarly, a fusion protein library comprising cDNA derived from plantcells is preferably formed in a plant cell line.

[0093] In one embodiment, when the cDNA library is derived from amammalian cells, the recipient cell line of the vector library is CHOcells or COS-7cells. When a pd2EGFP vector is employed, it is desirableto use COS-7 cells because these cells express the SV40 large T antigenwhich results in high-copy extra-chromosomal replication of the pd2EGFPvector.

[0094] Once the library of cells is formed, the library is allowed toexpress the fusion proteins and is then screened for whether the fusionprotein is being expressed. For example, when the reporter is afluorescent protein, such as GFP or EGFP, the cells can be efficientlyscreened by FACS sorting. This allows one to easily separate transformedor transfected cells from untransformed or untransfected cells and cellsthat were transformed or transformed by non-productive constructs.

[0095] 4. Sorting Cell Library Into Populations Based on Reporter SignalIntensity

[0096] The library of cells formed by transfecting or transducing a cellline with vectors encoding a library of fusion proteins will have adistribution of reporter signal intensities. For example, when thereporter is a fluorescent protein, a cell population with anapproximately log-normal fluorescence histogram distribution may have afluorescence distribution of 4 logs to the base 10.

[0097] According to the present invention, cells that are likely toencode short-lived proteins are selected by detecting changes in thecells' reporter signal intensity over time. By narrowing thedistribution of reporter signal intensities within a given population ofcells, it is possible to detect changes in the reporter signalintensities of individual cells within the population of cells.Therefore, prior to inhibiting protein synthesis or protein degradation,the cell library is first divided into populations, each with a distinctand narrow distribution of reporter signal intensities. Together, thepopulations cover the full dynamic range of the library of cells. In onevariation, the cell library is divided into 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10or more populations.

[0098] When a fluorescent reporter protein is employed, FACSfractionation may be used to divide the library into separatepopulations where each population has a distinct and narrow fluorescencebrightness distribution. Optionally, each population may be fractionatedto within a half-log interval of fluorescence. This would cause eachpopulation to have a modal brightness that differs from that of animmediately adjacent population by a factor of about 3.3.

[0099] After the library is divided into separate populations with anarrower distribution of reporter signal intensities than the library,the distribution of reporter signal intensities for each population maybe checked to confirm that the cells in a given population have thedesired distribution of reporter signal intensities. If the populationis not found to have the desired reporter signal intensity distribution,the population may be fractioned again. This process may be repeated asmany times as necessary in order to produce populations of cells whicheach have the desired distribution of reporter signal intensities withinthe population.

[0100] 5. Selecting Cells By Inhibiting Protein Expression and/orProtein Degradation

[0101] Once separate populations of cells are formed, each population isseparately analyzed for the presence of short-lived proteins.

[0102] For a given population, a subpopulation of cells is selectedbased on time-dependent changes in the reporter signal intensity of thecells within the population in response to inhibiting either proteinsynthesis or protein degradation. This selection process may be repeatedmultiple times where the subpopulation of cells formed in a given roundis further screened and narrowed in a later selection round. Optionally,the multiple rounds of selection include inhibiting protein synthesisand protein degradation in separate rounds. When both types ofinhibition are performed in separate selections, a finer screen isaccomplished.

[0103] In one embodiment, cells that have been partitioned into apopulation of cells having a desired distribution of reporter signalintensities are selected based on how inhibition of protein synthesisreduces the reporter signal intensity. A variety of different agents maybe used to inhibit protein synthesis. Examples of such agents include,but are not limited to cycloheximide.

[0104] When protein synthesis is reduced or blocked, short-livedproteins are more readily degraded. Hence, the signal of the reporter inthe fusion protein decreases. By selecting those cells whose reportersignal decreases more rapidly than other cells, one is able to detectcells expressing a short-lived fusion protein.

[0105] In one embodiment, cells that have been partitioned into apopulation of cells having a desired distribution of reporter signalintensities are selected based on how inhibition of protein degradationincreases the reporter signal intensity. A variety of different proteindegradation inhibiters may be used. One such inhibitor is lactacystin, aspecific proteasome inhibitor. Fenteany, G., Standaert, R. F., Lane, W.S., Choi, S., Corey, E. J. and Schreiber, S. L. (1995) Inhibition ofproteasome activities and subunit-specific amino-terminal threoninemodification by lactacystin. Science, 268, 726-731; Omura, S., Fujimoto,T., Otoguro, K., Matsuzaki, K., Moriguchi, R., Tanaka, H. and Sasaki, Y.(1991) Lactacystin, a novel microbial metabolite, induces neuritogenesisof neuroblastoma cells. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 44, 113-6.

[0106] When degradation of short-lived proteins is inhibited, theconcentration of short-lived proteins increases within the cell. Thisresults in the signal of the reporter in the fusion protein increasing.By selecting those cells whose reporter signal increases more rapidlythan other cells, one is able to detect cells expressing a fusionprotein comprising a short-lived protein.

[0107] Exposure to agents that inhibit protein synthesis and proteindegradation should be controlled so that live cells may be recovered andfurther processed. Hence, exposure to inhibitors should be limited todurations that are consistent with survival. Also, it is recognized thatprolonged exposure could induce a secondary cellular response thatproduces alterations in signal intensity from causes other than proteinturnover. This could result in a false-positive background. As discussedherein, a second reporter protein may be used as an internal standard tocounter these potential alterations in reporter signal intensity.

[0108] The duration desirable for inhibiting protein synthesis orprotein degradation is dependent upon how great a change in the signalintensity of the reporter is to be detected. It is also dependent uponthe desired maximum half life of the proteins to be detected. Forexample, cells may be selected which show at least a 2×, 4×, 6×, or 8×change in reporter signal intensity. This change in reporter signalintensity may occur over varying lengths of time, such as within 1 hour,2 hours, 3 hours, etc. In the case of inhibiting protein synthesis, thehalf life of a protein would be expected to equal the time required forthe reporter signal intensity associated with the protein to decrease by50%, assuming no pharmacological lag. Hence, a protein with 2 times lessreporter signal intensity after an hour would be expected to have a halflife of about 1 hour. Similarly, a protein with 4 times less reportersignal intensity after two hours and a protein with 8 times lessreporter signal intensity after three hours would both be expected tohave a half life of about 1 hour, assuming no pharmacological lag.

[0109] As described above, prior to inhibiting protein synthesis orprotein degradation, the cell library is divided into populations, eachwith a distinct and narrow distribution of reporter signal intensities.When a fluorescent reporter protein is used, each population will have adistinct and narrow fluorescence brightness distribution. Together, thepopulations cover the full dynamic range of the library of cells.

[0110] Each population is subjected individually to one or more proteinsynthesis or protein degradation inhibitor selections. For eachselection, cells are selected from the population which by theirreporter signal intensity behave differently than a main portion of thepopulation. For example, cells may be selected from the population whichfall outside of the mean reporter signal intensity for the population bya factor of two, three, four, five, ten or more.

[0111] The subpopulation of cells selected after each round of selectionis expected to constitute a very small fraction of the cell populationprior to the selection.

[0112] Cells that are selected during each selection round are washedfree of the protein synthesis or protein degradation inhibitor andallowed to regenerate through cell division in culture. Afterregeneration, the cells may be subjected to further rounds of selection.

[0113] Gene recovery and sequence analysis may be performed on cellsselected after one or more rounds of selection in order to identify thefusion protein expressed by the selected cells. Gene recovery andsequence analysis may be performed by any of a large number ofwell-known techniques.

[0114] 6. Optional Further Selection of Cells

[0115] The selection process described in Section 5 serves to enrich thepercentage of cells in the resulting population of selected cells thatencode a short-lived protein. Optionally, further selection may beperformed where individual clones of the selected cells are furtheranalyzed for whether they encode a short-lived protein.

[0116] According to this variation, the selected cells are separatedsuch that single cells are seeded into wells of microtiter plates andallowed to grow, preferably to at least 10⁴ cells per well. The wellsmay then be treated with a protein synthesis or protein degradationinhibitor. Afterward, the individual wells are scanned to assesstime-dependent changes in the reporter signal. Wells exhibitingtime-dependent changes indicative of the cells expressing short-livedproteins may be marked and the cells contained therein recovered. Generecovery and sequence analysis may then be performed on the recoveredcells.

[0117] This additional selection of individual clones can be carried outmanually with the aid of a fluorescent plate reader. Higher throughputmay be desirable or even necessary if large numbers of cells need to bescreened, for example, because the selection process yields a smallpopulation of desired cells. High throughput screening may be carriedout using a Cellomics ArrayScan Kinetics HCS Workstation (Cellomics,Pittsburgh).

[0118] 7. Validation of Selection Process

[0119] In order to validate the specificity of the selection process,cells that are selected may be analyzed using conventional methods toevaluate protein lability. For example, pulse-chase analysis may beperformed to confirm whether the fusion protein expressed by theselected cells are short-lived. When GFP is used as the reporterprotein, this validation may be performed by immunoprecipitating thelabeled fusion protein with anti-GFP antisera, followed by SDS-PAGE andautoradiography.

[0120] 8. Internal Standard For Monitoring Selection Efficiency

[0121] Stochastic cellular processes can induce the fluorescence signalsof some cells to change over time. For example, changes in cell shape,cell cycle position, or intracellular redistribution of a fusion proteincan all cause the fluorescent signal of a cell to change. When selectingcells based on a change in fluorescence, false positives may be selectedif the fluorescence signals of those cells change in a manner thatcauses the cells to be mistakenly selected as expressing short-livedfusion proteins.

[0122] Multiple rounds of population-based selections using FACS willserve to eliminate false positives misidentified as a result of suchrandom fluctuations. False positive selections will also be eliminatedin subsequent, more individualized screens.

[0123] It is nevertheless desirable to reduce the frequency with whichfalse positives are at least initially selected. This can be achieved byusing an internal standard whose signal also varies as a result of thesestochastic cellular processes. As a result, by normalizing the reporterrelative to the internal standard, a normalized reporter value can bedetermined that is more reliably indicative of the expression of thereporter.

[0124] For example, cells may be transformed or transfected so theyexpress a fusion protein comprising the first reporter protein and asecond reporter protein, such as beta-galactosidase, that has adifferent emission wavelength than the first reporter protein. Thisallows expression of the first reporter protein and the second reporterprotein to be independently monitored. It also allows the signal fromthe first reporter protein for each cell to be normalized relative tothe second reporter protein. The normalized reporter signal for a givencell should be less effected by the stochastic cellular processes ofthat cell. Hence, basing selection upon the normalized reporter signalsfor each cell should reduce the frequency of false positives.

[0125] The second reporter protein may be introduced into cells by anymanner and by any vehicle. For example, the second reporter protein mayalso be introduced into the cell by transformation or transfection andmay be introduced before, after, or with the introduction of the vectorencoding the fusion protein.

[0126] In one embodiment, the vector library comprising the firstreporter—cDNA fusion protein constructs further encodes the secondreporter protein. Hence, initial selection of cells for whether thecells received a vector from the vector library may be based either uponthe first reporter protein or the second reporter protein.

[0127] Optionally, cells may be added to each population which express aknown short-lived protein as a benchmark. These benchmark cells for eachpopulation should have a brightness mode that is close to that of itsrelated population. The benchmark cells may be added in knownconcentrations, for example in numbers that constitute 1:100, 1:1000 or1:10,000 of total cells. The benchmark cells may also be marked with abenchmark reporter protein, such as beta-galactosidase. Since othercells in the population will not express the benchmark reporter protein,the effectiveness of the present invention to enrich the concentrationof short-lived proteins relative to the initial cell library can bemonitored by measuring the frequency of this marker.

[0128] 9. Characterizing Sequence From cDNA Library in Selected Cells

[0129] After selecting cells whose reporter signal behavior indicatesthat the fusion protein is short-lived, the sequences encoding thefusion protein may be analyzed. Specifically, the selected cells may bepooled and extra-chromosomal DNA extracted and transfected into E. coli.It is noted that other methods may be used to recover the gene inserts.For example, the gene inserts can be recovered through PCR, usingflanking sequences from the vector used to introduce the sequenceencoding the fusion protein as a primer.

[0130] The E. coli library produced by transfecting theextra-chromosomal DNA may then be used to obtain DNA sequenceinformation. Individual bacterial cells may be isolated and cultured incommercially available 384-well high-density culture plates. Eachindividual culture plate may be bar-coded where individual clones areassigned a particular code. This allows the cell lines to be readilyretrieved for further analysis. The barcode system may be implementedthroughout the entire process.

[0131]E coli cells in replica plates are diluted and used for DNAamplification in an appropriate 384-well PCR plate. After PCRamplification, the DNA fragments can be used for direct sequencing. ADNA sequence database may be established based on the sequenceinformation. The DNA sequence and putative translated protein sequencecan then be examined and compared with existing DNA sequence databaseusing The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and byusing the BLAST program run by NCBI, or by The Protein ExtractionDescription and Analysis Tool (PDANT) program. Genes identified that areof interest may be readily retrieved from the original cell clones basedon their barcodes.

[0132] 10. Confirmation of Whether Isolated Proteins Are Short-Lived inNative Form

[0133] Once the DNA and protein sequences of the fusion proteins areidentified, further analysis may be performed to evaluate whether theportion of the fusion protein encoded by the sequence from the cDNAlibrary is short-lived in its native form, that is, when expressed freeof the reporter protein. Testing of the lability of the native form ofthe protein screened via the above process may be performed by standardmethods, such as pulse-chase analysis, which are known in the art.

[0134] 11. Monitoring Changes in Degradation Rate of Proteins UnderDifferent Conditions

[0135] It is noted that the degradation rate of a given protein isitself subject to regulation. Hence, different proteins may beshort-lived under certain cellular conditions and less labile underother conditions. For instance, I B, the inhibitor of NF B, forms acomplex with NF B and inhibits NFB activity. When the pathway istriggered by TNF or IL-1, a cascade of kinases in the NF B pathway isactivated, which results in phosphorylation and degradation of I B. NFBis released from the complex and translocates from the cytoplasm tonucleus to mediate transcriptional induction of a number of genes whoseproducts are very important to immunity and inflammatory responses.

[0136] A need thus exists for methodology that allows one to monitor howdegradation rates of different proteins change under differentconditions.

[0137]FIG. 3 illustrates a method for monitoring how degradation ratesof different proteins change under different conditions. According tothis variation, a library of cells expressing a fusion protein libraryis formed 110, screened 114 and partitioned 115 according to the presentinvention.

[0138] One or more of the partitioned populations of cells 308 is thengrown under different conditions 310A-310C which may serve to regulateprotein degradation. These different conditions may include cell cycleposition, inducing conditions or other factors. For example, thedifferent conditions may include exposing the cells to a library ofagents that may affect regulation of the degradation process.

[0139] Those cells that are found to have a reporter signal behaviorindicative of a fusion protein being degraded as a short-lived proteinare selected 312A-312C. The selection process may comprise the one ormore selection rounds and other selection processes described above.

[0140] The fusion proteins expressed by the selected populations ofcells 312A-312C are then compared 314. By seeing which fusion proteinsare expressed by the same population of cells 308, it is possible todetermine how the different conditions influence protein degradation.

[0141] By comparing which proteins are degraded by the cells underdifferent growth conditions and when exposed to different agents, theprocess of how the degradation of certain proteins is regulated can beelucidated. For example, by determining that a given protein is labilewithin a cell in the presence of a given agent but is otherwise a stableprotein, one is able to begin to deduce how that protein is regulated.This information could lead to the identification and development oftherapeutic agents that either reduce or increase the half life ofselected proteins by knowing how to control the degradation regulatorypathway associated with that protein.

[0142] In some instances, conditions may affect the protein degradationof a group of proteins. By determining groups of proteins that appear tohave their degradation rate linked in some way, regulatory pathways canbe deduced. For example, the fact that administering an agent affectsthe degradation of a group of proteins may indicate that the agent iseither inhibiting or inducing a given pathway. This allows the proteinsinvolved in that pathway to be identified. By finding agents thatinhibit different subgroups of proteins, the pathway may be furtherelucidated.

[0143] Being able to determine whether a given agent affects thedegradation rate of more than one protein is very useful in designingtherapeutics. For example, the fact that a given agent affects thedegradation rate of multiple proteins may signal that that agent is notsufficiently selective and may cause undesirable side affects. The factthat a given agent affects the degradation rate of multiple proteins mayalso signal that that protein is not an attractive target for regulatinga given pathway.

[0144] 12. Comparing Short-lived Protein Expression Across DifferentSamples

[0145] In Section 11, it was noted that the degradation rate of a givenprotein may be affected by the conditions under which the cells aregrown. In that instance, a cDNA library isolated from a single sample istested under different conditions.

[0146] This section describes how to compare which short-lived proteinsare expressed by different cell samples. When the protein expression ofnormal cells and diseased cells are compared, it may be found thatdifferent short-lived proteins are either expressed or not expressed bythe diseased cells. For example, the diseased cells may comprise agenetic abnormality relative to the normal cells. By comparing whichshort-lived proteins are expressed by normal and diseased cells, it maybe possible to identify one or more short-lived proteins whoseexpression or non-expression account for the diseased cells beingabnormal. Treatments may then be directed to these identifiedshort-lived proteins.

[0147]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a method for comparing whichshort-lived proteins are expressed by two or more different samples ofcells. In FIG. 4, a normal 400A and diseased 400B sample of cells areshown. mRNA libraries 402A, 402B and then cDNA libraries 404A, 404B areformed for the cell samples 400A, 400B. Libraries of constructs 406A,406B, libraries of vectors 408A, 408B, and then libraries of cells 410A,410B are formed based on each cDNA library. The resulting libraries ofcells are then each processed as set forth in FIG. 1 in order toidentify short-lived fusion proteins expressed by each library of cells412A, 412B. By comparing 414 which short-lived fusion proteins areexpressed by each library of cells 410A, 410B, it is possible to detectdifferences between the libraries and hence differences between theshort-lived proteins expressed by the two or more different samples ofcells 400A, 400B.

[0148] 13. Method for Altering Degradation Rate for Short-Lived Proteins

[0149] Proteins differ widely in their lability, ranging from entirelystable to half-lives that measure minutes. In some cases, rapidlydegraded proteins have been shown to contain an identifiable“degradation domain.” Removal of this degradation domain makes suchproteins stable and appending this domain to a stable protein changesits stability dramatically. Such a degradation domain has beenidentified in a number of short-lived proteins, such as the C terminusof mouse ODC. (Li, X., Stebbins, B., Hoffman, L., Pratt, G.,Rechsteiner, M. and Coffino, P. (1996) The N Terminus of AntizymePromotes Degradation of Heterologous Proteins. The Journal of BiologicalChemistry, 271, 4441-4446; Loetscher, P., Pratt, G. and Rechsteiner, M.(1991) The C Terminus of Mouse Ornithine Decarboxylase Confers RapidDegradation on Dihydrofolate Reductase. The Journal of BiologicalChemistry, 266, 11213-11220) and the destruction box of cyclins(Glotzer, M., Murray, A. W. and Kirschner, M. W. (1991) Cyclin isDegraded by the Ubiquitin Pathway. Nature, 349, 132-138).

[0150] In some cases, the signal is a primary sequence such as the PESTsequence. Rechsteiner, M. and Rogers, S. W. (1996) PEST Sequences andRegulation by Proteolysis. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 21, 267-271;Rogers, S., Wells, R. and Rechsteiner, M. (1986) Amino Acid SequencesCommon to Rapidly Degraded Proteins: The PEST Hypothesis. Science, 234,364-368. However, the structural features of such degradation domainsare not sufficiently uniform as to provide a reliable guide toidentifying the general class of labile proteins that interests us here.The major neutral protease responsible for degradation of labileregulatory proteins is the proteasome. Zwickl, P., Voges, D. andBaumeister, W. (1999) The Proteasome: A Macromolecular Assembly Designedfor Controlled Proteolysis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 354,1501-11.

[0151] Prior to degradation, most short-lived proteins are covalentlycoupled to multiple copies of the 76 amino acid protein ubiquitin, areaction catalyzed by a series of enzymes. Ciechanover, A. and Schwartz,A. L. (1998) The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway: The Complexity and MyriadFunctions of Proteins Death. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 95, 2727-30.These ubiquitinated proteins are recognized by 26S proteasome anddegraded within its hollow interior. This system of regulateddegradation is central to such processes as cell cycle progression, genetranscription and processing of antigens. A few proteins have been foundto be exceptional. Verma, R. and Deshaies, R. J. (2000) A ProteasomeHowdunit: The Case of The Missing Signal. Cell, 101, 341-4. Likeornithine decarboxylase, they do not require ubiquitin modification fordegradation by the proteasome.

[0152] A desirable utility of being able to rapidly and efficientlydetermine the sequence of a large number of different short-livedproteins is the prospect of identifying additional degradation domains.By knowing what domains affect recognition within the cell that aprotein should be degraded, it is then possible to reengineer proteinseither to increase or decrease their rate of degradation in vivo.

[0153] A significant problem in the art relates to the rate at whichtherapeutic proteins administered to the body are cleared. With enhancedknowledge regarding how protein degradation is regulated, for example,by better understanding what are the degradation domains of proteins, itis possible to modify the degradation domains of therapeutic proteins sothat these proteins have longer half lives in the body whenadministered.

[0154] 14. Compositions and Kits for Use in the Methods of the PresentInvention

[0155] A wide variety of compositions and kits may be designed for usein combination with the various methods of the present invention.Various examples of these compositions, such as reporter—cDNA fusionprotein construct libraries 106, vectors comprising the library ofreporter—cDNA fusion protein constructs 108, and library of cellsexpressing the library of reporter—cDNA fusion proteins 110 have alreadybeen described herein.

[0156] It is noted that a variety of kits may be formed which may beused to construct these various compositions or which may be used incombination with these various compositions for performing aspects ofthe present invention. Several of these kits are described herein.Others will be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0157] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the compounds, compositions,kits, and methods of the present invention without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the presentinvention cover the modifications and variations of this inventionprovided they come within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for screening for agents that affectprotein degradation rates, the method comprising: taking a library ofcells, the cells expressing a fusion protein comprising a reporterprotein and a protein encoded by a sequence from a cDNA library derivedfrom a sample of cells, the sequence from the cDNA library varyingwithin the cell library; contacting the library of cells with aplurality of agents which may affect protein degradation rates; for eachagent, selecting cells in the library which express short-lived proteinsbased on whether the cells have different reporter signal intensitiesthan other cells in the library, the difference being indicative of theselected cells expressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusionproteins expressed by the other cells in the library; and characterizingthe fusion proteins expressed by the selected cells for each agent.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprisescomparing which fusion proteins are expressed by the selected cells foreach agent.
 3. A method for monitoring effects different growthconditions have on expression of short-lived proteins, the methodcomprising: exposing samples of cells to different growth conditions;forming cDNA libraries from the sample of cells after exposure to thedifferent growth conditions; forming a library of cells for each cDNAlibrary, the cells in the library expressing a fusion protein comprisinga reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequence from the cDNAlibrary derived from a sample of cells, the sequence from the cDNAlibrary varying within the cell library; for each library of cells,identifying cells within the library that express fusion proteins thatare degraded in vivo more rapidly than other fusion proteins, andcharacterizing fusion proteins expressed by the identified cells; andcomparing which fusion proteins are characterized for each library ofcells, differences in the characterized fusion proteins indicatingdifferences in the short-lived proteins expressed by when the cells areexposed to the different agents.
 4. A method according to claim 3,wherein exposing the samples of cells to different conditions comprisesexposing the cells to different agents.
 5. A method according to claim3, wherein identifying cells within the library that express fusionproteins that are degraded in vivo more rapidly than other fusionproteins comprises modifying a rate of protein expression or degradationby the cells, and selecting a population of the cells based on whetherthe cells have different reporter signal intensities than other cellsafter the rate of protein expression or degradation has been modified,the difference being indicative of the selected population of cellsexpressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusion proteinsexpressed by the other cells in the library.
 6. A method for monitoringeffects different growth conditions have on expression of short-livedproteins, the method comprising: exposing samples of cells to differentconditions; forming cDNA libraries from the sample of cells afterexposure to the different growth conditions; forming a library of cellsfor each cDNA library, each cell in the library expressing a fusionprotein comprising a reporter protein and a protein encoded by asequence from the cDNA library derived from a sample of cells, thesequence from the cDNA library varying within the cell library; for eachlibrary of cells, partitioning the library of cells into populations ofcells based on an intensity of a reporter signal from the fusion proteinsuch that cells partitioned into a given population have a reportersignal within a desired range of reporter signal intensity, modifying arate of protein expression or degradation by the cells for a givenpopulation of cells, selecting a subpopulation of the cells from thegiven population of cells based on whether the cells have a differentreporter signal intensity than the other cells in the given population,the difference being indicative of the selected subpopulation of cellsexpressing shorter lived fusion proteins than the fusion proteinsexpressed by the other cells in the given population characterizingfusion proteins expressed by at least a portion of the selected cells;and comparing which fusion proteins are characterized for each libraryof cells, differences in the characterized fusion proteins indicatingdifferences in the short-lived proteins expressed by when the cells areexposed to the different agents.
 7. A method according to claim 6wherein exposing the samples of cells to different conditions comprisesexposing the cells to different agents.
 8. A method for screening fordifferences in short-lived proteins expressed by first and second cellsamples, the method comprising: forming cDNA libraries for first andsecond samples of cells; forming a library of cells for each cDNAlibrary, the cells in the library expressing a fusion protein comprisinga reporter protein and a protein encoded by a sequence from the cDNAlibrary derived from a sample of cells, the sequence from the cDNAlibrary varying within the cell library; for each library of cells,identifying cells within the library that express fusion proteins thatare degraded in vivo more rapidly than other fusion proteins, andcharacterizing fusion proteins expressed by the identified cells; andcomparing which fusion proteins are characterized for each library ofcells, differences in the characterized fusion proteins indicatingdifferences in the short-lived proteins expressed by the first andsecond samples cells.
 9. A method for screening for differences inshort-lived proteins expressed by first and second cell samples, themethod comprising: forming cDNA libraries for first and second samplesof cells; forming a library of cells for each cDNA library, the cells inthe library expressing a fusion protein comprising a reporter proteinand a protein encoded by a sequence from the cDNA library derived from asample of cells, the sequence from the cDNA library varying within thecell library; for each library of cells, partitioning the library ofcells into populations of cells based on an intensity of a reportersignal from the fusion protein such that cells partitioned into a givenpopulation have a reporter signal within a desired range of reportersignal intensity, modifying a rate of protein expression or degradationby the cells for a given population of cells, selecting a subpopulationof the cells based on whether the cells have different reporter signalintensities than the other cells after the rate of protein expression ordegradation has been modified, the difference being indicative of theselected subpopulation of cells expressing shorter lived fusion proteinsthan the fusion proteins expressed by the other cells in the givenpopulation, and characterizing fusion proteins expressed by at least aportion of the selected cells; and comparing which fusion proteins arecharacterized for each library of cells, differences in thecharacterized fusion proteins indicating differences in the short-livedproteins expressed by the first and second samples cells.